EICMA 2012: Aprilia RSV4 R Updated with ABS and Power Increase

Thu, 15 Nov 2012

At October’s Intermot show in Cologne, Germany, Aprilia announced a number of upgrades to its RSV4 Factory, giving the sportbike more power, anti-lock brakes and a number of other updates. This week at the 2012 EICMA Show, Aprilia extended those updates to it’s slightly less upscale but still pretty damn good base model, the RSV4 R.

The production versions of Max Biaggi‘s World Superbike Championship-winning racebike, the ApriliaRSV4 R (all-black in these pictures) and the RSV4 Factory (pictured with red trim) receive an engine upgrade to reduce internal friction and casing ventilation. Combined with a redesigned exhaust system, the result is a claimed output of 181.5 hp and 86.3 ft-lb. at the crank, compared to the previous year’s claims of 177 hp and 84.8 ft-lb.

Another important update is the addition of a Bosch 9MP ABS with three levels of calibration. Level 1 (Track) optimizes the ABS for high-speed performance. Level 2 (Street) is for sporty street riding and works with a Rear Lift-up Mitigation (RLM) advanced tip-over system which adjusts the braking action based on vehicle speed. Level 3 (Rain) also works with RLM and is designed for slick surfaces offering poor grip. The ABS can also be disengaged.

The three ABS maps also work with the RSV4′s three engine maps (Track, Sport and Road) in multiple combinations to suit a rider’s style and skill level. Like the Factory version, the RSV4 R receives the full Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) suite of electronics which includes traction control, wheelie control, launch control and quick shift. The traction control and wheelie control systems both received some refining for 2013.

Unique among production sportbikes, the position of the RSV4′s engine can be adjusted within the frame. The swingarm pivot can also be adjusted to customize the stability and weight distribution for riders of varying sizes.

Another notable change is the new fuel tank. Aprilia modified the fuel tank to accommodate the placement of the new ABS control unit, with the added bonus of a volume increase to 4.9 gallons from 4.5 gallons.

The RSV4 R is equipped with a 43mm Sachs upside-down fork and monoshock, both offering adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping. The Factory version however swaps the Sachs components for Öhlins suspension. Sachs also supplies a non-adjustable steering damper on the R version while Öhlins provides an adjustable steering damper for the RSV4 Factory.

Also differentiating between the RSV4 R from the Factory version are the wheels (three-spoke aluminum alloy for the R and five-spoke forged aluminum alloy for the Factory), mudguard finish, headlight assembly finish and exhaust silencer bottom. According to Aprilia, the 2013 RSV4 R has a dry weight of 410 pounds compared to the RSV4 Factory’s claimed weight of 399 pounds.